Funding for attendance of preparatory courses for the final apprenticeship examination

The funding covers 100% of the course costs (including VAT) as a direct grant, up to a maximum of €250 per course participation, to enable apprentices to attend quality-assured preparatory courses for the final apprenticeship examination. Applications are free of charge and can be submitted up to three months after the eligible event – the course attendance. Eligible courses are those approved in accordance with § 19c para. 1 nos. 1–7 BAG and attended by apprentices in eligible training companies. Excluded are apprentices under § 30 BAG, public authorities, and political parties. The course attendance must take place within a period of a maximum of 12 months before to 12 months after the end of the apprenticeship to meet the legal requirements.

With this measure, the federal government aims to sustainably improve the quality of dual vocational training and ensure the successful completion of training pathways. By covering the course fees, financial barriers are reduced and apprentices are specifically supported in their exam preparation. The nationwide, unlimited funding facilitates access to professional training offers and promotes the integration of young skilled workers into the labor market. The legal basis is provided by the Vocational Training Act (§ 19c BAG) and the corresponding funding guidelines. Overall, the program makes a valuable contribution to enhancing quality in vocational training and reducing youth unemployment.